We know how important school leaders are to the success of their schools and students, yet they often don’t get the appreciation that they deserve for their efforts. Because we believe in the critical role of principals, our organizations—NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators—have once again declared October as National Principals Month.

This is a time to honor the work that school leaders do every day and tell them how much they mean to their schools, students, and community. National Principals Month is recognized throughout the country by schools and communities. As we have in previous years, NASSP is also working with the House and Senate to introduce a resolution commemorating National Principals Month.

Given the lack of certainty surrounding education policy under the current administration, celebrating National Principals Month is especially important in showing support for school leadership. In these challenging times, school leaders need to know that their staff, students, and community are behind them and recognize their efforts.

That’s why we’ve encouraged students and teachers to get involved in as many of the activities to commemorate this month as they can. You can also get involved—see details on the National Principals Month website! And don’t forget to use #ThankAPrincipal when posting about how you and your school is celebrating on social media.

We thank you for the remarkable work you do as a school leader and we look forward to celebrating you this month and beyond.